Attendance

The Texas State Compulsory Attendance Law requires students aged 6 through 19 to attend school. Section 25.085 requires students to go to school each school day for the entire school day unless exempted by law. This requirement includes students who have voluntarily enrolled in prekindergarten or kindergarten and students who are 19 or older.

Students who violate this law may receive referrals for court proceedings against the parent, guardian or student to enforce the law.

Violation of the law occurs when students get unexcused absences for 10 or more days or parts of days within a six-month period.

1. You can ask your child’s campus for an attendance report to review routinely.
2. Students and parents can monitor attendance records in Focus. Please click here to sign into RISD Focus. In addition, parents can sign up to receive notifications from Focus.

RISD  policy mandates parents submit an excuse note to the school attendance office within three days of returning to school.

Excuse notes, which can be an email, must include:

• Student name
• Student ID number
• A written statement giving the date and reason for the absence
• Parent or guardian signature for handwritten notes only
• Parent phone number

When sickness or other obligation necessitates an absence, a note signed by the parent/guardian explaining the reason for the absence is required. If a student fails to submit a note, the absence will be considered unexcused. Richardson ISD encourages students to submit an excuse note within three days of the student’s return to school.

It is very important to send a note because the absence will be unexcused if a parent/guardian fails to provide a note within the semester in which the absence occurred. Unexcused absences are what triggers the warning letters regarding violation of truancy laws and can lead to truancy court proceedings with Dallas County.

• Child’s illness or injury
• Family emergency with administrator approval
• Death of a family member
• Doctor or dental appointments that cannot be scheduled before or after school hours
• Religious holidays
• Court appearances

Please note: If a student is absent, Parents should always submit an excuse note to the main office when the student returns to school. Excuse notes should have student name, grade, date of absence, reason, and parent signature.

We are sure you are aware of how important it is that your child receive a quality education. However, you may be unaware that under the laws of the State of Texas it is your duty as the parent/guardian to monitor your child’s attendance and make sure he/she attends school each and every day, for the full instructional day. This also includes ensuring the student arrives to school on time, attends each class period and avoid as much as possible early releases/pick-ups from school unless there is an extreme emergency.

When a student is absent from school Parents/Guardians should submit a written explanation, also known as an excuse note, to the school. This should be done within three school days following the student’s return to school.

For information on how to monitor your child’s attendance, grades, and etc. Please click here to sign up for RISD Focus. In addition, parents can sign up to receive notifications from Focus.

Automated phone calls will be placed to parents or guardians notifying them when a student has been marked absent. It is the parent’s or guardian’s responsibility to ensure that they provide current and up-to-date contact information to the school.

The school district will also provide attendance information on a child’s report card to monitor the student’s school attendance. For up-to-the minute attendance information parents/guardians can view their student’s attendance record in Focus.

If a student has been absent without excuse on three days or parts of three days within a four-week period, the school district shall issue a warning notice to inform the parent of their duty to monitor the student’s school attendance and require the student to attend school; and the student is subject to truancy-prevention measures in addition to other statutory requirements in existence; and a request for a conference between school officials and the parents will be made to discuss the absences.

Further, if a student is absent without excuse on 10 or more days or parts of 10 or more days within a six-month period in the same school year, the district may file truancy court proceedings against the parents or guardians and the student for violation of the Texas Compulsory Attendance Law.

The Texas State Compulsory Attendance Law, Section 25.085, requires all enrolled students to attend school on time, all day, every day school is in session.

Violation of the law occurs when students get unexcused voluntary absences for 10 or more days or parts of 10 or more days within a six-month period. The Richardson Independent School District requires an explanation note to excuse an absence. Parents or guardians will receive a warning letter from the school when a student has been absent without an excuse three times for any part of the day in a four-week period.

Students who violate the law may receive a referral for court proceedings against the parent or guardian and the student to enforce the law. Students over the age of 19 may be withdrawn by the school for excessive unexcused absences.

If you have any concerns regarding the accuracy of your student’s attendance, please contact the school’s attendance office.